Newly elected officials sworn in at County Government Center

Eight elected county officials were sworn in at noon Monday before a standing-room-only crowd at the County Government Center in San Luis Obispo.

Those taking office were Supervisor Bruce Gibson, Supervisor Lynn Compton, Clerk-Recorder Tommy Gong, District Attorney Dan Dow, Auditor-Controller-Treasurer-Tax Collector-Public Administrator Jim Erb, Assessor Tom Bordonaro, Sheriff Ian Parkinson and Superintendent of Schools James Brescia.

The county Board of Supervisors also elected new officers. Supervisor Frank Mecham was elected chairman, and Supervisor Adam Hill was elected vice chairman.

Dow, Compton and Gibson spoke after being sworn in.

Dow said he considers being the county’s top prosecutor a sacred duty. He said he will work to keep the county safe.

“We must truly wear the white hat in this profession,” he said.

He listed the three top law enforcement challenges facing the county as preventing street gangs from entering the county, keeping hard drugs such as heroin out of schools, and managing jail overcrowding caused by the state’s prison realignment policy.

Compton said she enjoyed meeting many of her constituents during her yearlong election campaign. She named James Harrison as her planning commissioner and Jocelyn Brennan as her legislative assistant.

“I am determined to serve as a constructive member of this board,” Compton said.

Gibson stepped down as chairman of the Board of Supervisors after serving for a year and a half in that position. He became chairman after Supervisor Paul Teixeira died in June 2013.

“We are here to be close to our constituents and get stuff done,” he said, summarizing the duties of a county supervisor.

This story was originally published January 5, 2015 at 5:32 PM with the headline "Newly elected officials sworn in at County Government Center."